WWS 21st Birthday Bash & Women in Wine Panel
April 14, 2011
“Women for WineSense Celebrates 21st Birthday,” St. Helena Star
“Shattering the Glass Ceiling,” by Patricia Roth, Wine Business.com
WWS 21st Birthday Press Release – April 7, 2011
WWS Beginnings Founders Videos
Our Women in Wine Panel: The Pioneering Trailblazers
Women in Wine Panelists & Moderator 2011
Women in Wine Panel 2011
Zelma Long, recently inducted into the 2010 Vintner Hall of Fame and hailed as a ‘beacon of 
the [wine] industry,’ has been in the wine business since the 1970s. A career spanning more than 30 years includes a stretch as Robert Mondavi’s chief enologist for 10 years in the 1970s. In 1979, she became vice president of winemaking at Simi Winery and eventually its president and CEO. Before retiring in 1999, she served as executive vice president of Chandon Estates. Currently “retired,” Long makes wine both at her California base, Long Vineyards, her other California consultancies, in the Pacific Northwest, the Rhône Valley, Israel at Golan Heights Winery, Washington’s Columbia Valley, or at Vilafonte in South Africa, where she is co-owner.
Eileen Crane, Domaine Carneros’ founding winemaker and president is equally at 
home in the world of food and fine dining. She began her winemaking career at Domain Chandon, later serving as winemaker and vice president of Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves. Selected personally by Claude Taittinger for the position of President/Winemaker of Domaine Carneros, dedicated to producing world-class sparkling wines made in the French tradition from famed Carneros region grapes, Eileen oversaw the planning and development of the beautiful Carneros landmark chateau, vineyards and winemaking facility. Often referred to as America’s Doyenne of Sparkling Wine, Eileen Crane has spent more than 30 years in the industry. This makes her the most experienced Sparkling Winemaker in the United States.
Jean Arnold Sessions was named President of Hanzell Vineyards in January of 2002 as Bob 
Sessions’ retirement to Winemaker Emeritus was announced. Prior to joining Hanzell Vineyards as President, Jean was CEO of Jackson Family Farms and its nine independent wineries. With over twenty-five years’ of wine industry experience in business leadership, executive management, marketing, and sales, her work experience has included such notable wineries as Chateau St. Jean, Chateau Montelena, J Vineyards & Winery, Jordan Vineyards & Winery, Chalk Hill Estate and Williams Selyem. In 1999, she founded her consulting firm, the Jean Arnold Group, to offer luxury brand positioning and image creation to private wine industry clients.
Mia Klein loves making wine. From that first harvest in 1983, working the nightshift 
for Cathy Corison at Chappellet, she knew there was no doubt. After receiving her degree in Enology from U.C. Davis in 1984, she worked her way up from the cellar to assistant winemaker and then to winemaker working at Chappellet and Robert Pepi. In 1990, Mia then left the world of regular employment and began consulting. Spottswoode, Araujo, Viader, Fisher, and Dalla Valle are among the clients she’s served. Following her dive into the world of consulting she started her own brand, Selene Wines. Selene’s output is exclusively focused on the Bordeaux varietals that thrive in great Napa Valley vineyards. Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc have been produced since 1991 and 1992 respectively. Cabernet Sauvignon and a Bordeaux blend (based on Cabernet Franc) called ‘Chesler’ have been produced since 2002. Mia was named Food and Wine’s 2003 Winemaker of the Year.
Carol Shelton has had an illustrious 33-year career in the wine industry. While getting 
her Enology degree from UC Davis, Carol worked with Dr. Ann Noble, of Wine Aroma Wheel fame. As one of the first dozen women to receive her BS in Enology in 1978, Carol worked for Robert Mondavi, Saltram’s in Australia’s Barossa Valley, and in 1980 at Buena Vista, where she was mentored by the great Andre Tchelistcheff. As winemaker for Windsor Vineyards from 1981 till 2000, her wines drew great acclaim and she earned the title of “Most Awarded Winemaker in America” as well as “Winemaker of the Year” three times. Carol left Windsor in early 2000 to form Carol Shelton Wines with her husband, Mitch Mackenzie. Their goal is to craft small lots from carefully selected vineyards, with Zinfandel as their focus and passion.
Moderator Kerry Kirkham is an experienced writer, video producer and assistant 
winemaker who joined the Wines & Vines staff as technical editor in 2010. During her near three-year stint as assistant winemaker at Ross Valley Winery in San Anselmo, Calif. Kirkham crafted two wine releases. At Ross Valley Winery, she was closely involved with the daily operations of a small commercial winery, which included tending a small vineyard, conducting cellar and lab work, running the bottling line, managing the tasting room and more. Kirkham completed the UC Davis Wine Executive Program and regularly attends industry sessions and extension classes in viticulture and wine business. She holds a BA in English from San Francisco State University.
Schedule
5:45-6:45pm Registration & Reception
6:45-7:30pm Introduction, History of WWS and Celebratory Toast
7:30-8:30pm Panel Discussion: Shattering the Glass Ceiling
8:30-9:00pm Q & A, Silent Auction Winners, Wrap Up.
A huge thanks to our auction donors! We raised $1,950 for our scholarship fund.
Auction Donors
Michaela Rodeno, WWS Co-Founder
Julie Johnson, WWS Co-Founder
Dawnine Dyer
Amelia Ceja
Ruth Gilmore
WWS National
Kathy Leon, Meritage Co.
Spring Mountain
Fortunati Vineyards
Carol Shelton
